Volcanoes are exceptional in the fact that they grow. Each time they erupt lavas or tephras, they build themselves taller and wider. These volcanic materials are often loose or heavily fractured. Consequently, the higher the volcano grows, the more unstable they become. To put it simply: what goes up must come down.

When they do come down, the landslide is so large and so fast that the results can be catastrophic. In the past 400 years, it is estimated that 20,000 people have died in these events (Siebert, 1987).

The frequency of these events in volcanic settings and the potential for devastation makes volcanic collapse a ‘Big Idea‘ in volcanology. By understanding collapses, we can understand more about volcanic processes and be better able to reduce the risks for humans who live near volcanoes.An excellent and newly published overview of volcanic collapses and their hazards can be found here.

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